Dixie Chili
Walking down Monmouth Street in New Port Kentucky you might easily think you've slipped into a time warp. Nestled among the vibrant and freshly renovated buildings sits a perfect little chili joint that looks almost entirely unchanged since it opened 75 years ago. Opened by Greek immigrant Nicholas Sarakatsannis and still owned by 2 of his sons to this day, Dixie Chili is arguably the definitive Cincinnati style Coney. Spicy yet sweet, with a clear hint of cinnamon, one taste of this hot dog will leave you with no doubts as to where you are.
Just walking up to the front entrance, you can feel the history emanating from the building. Walk through the door, and you know that you’ll find yourself transported back several decades. The basic layout is clearly from a bygone era. After placing your order you're issued a tray. You then slide it down past the stations where your drinks and hot dogs order are placed on the tray. The fries are cooked fresh to order, so you’re told to take a seat with your dogs and someone will bring them out to you. After you've finished with your dishes a sweet little old lady appears with a smile and quickly makes them disappear.
The hip/historic vibe is amazing, but the food is just as impressive. A soft steamed bun, a small hotdog, that wonderful sweet/spicy chili, topped with a ton of fresh shredded cheese. I covered these tiny tasty dogs with their in-house hot sauce, and quickly devoured the pile. Like everything else the hot sauce is perfectly balanced with a touch of heat, and a nice vinegary bite that cuts through the strong savory flavors. Next up came the waffle fries. Decent sized, fried to crisp perfection, and then delicately seasoned. They're then drenched in the same home made chili, and an impressive pile of that fresh shredded cheddar cheese.
Having enjoyed a few sodas with lunch I made use the restrooms, and found them to also be frozen in time. Plenty of places these days try to imitate that classic Americana vibe, but Dixie Chili is the real deal. Built in an elegant style and made to stand the test of time, it's done just that.
Dixie Chili is an absolute "must eat" if you find yourself anywhere near the area. It's a culinary original in a style that has been copied to death. If you've ever eaten at a mass-produced Cincinnati chili chain like Gold Star or Skyline, you owe it to yourself to try Dixie Chili and see what it's actually supposed to taste like. One final gift of it's age, located in a town where it's common to pay $5-10 just to park at a restaurant, Dixie has their own dedicated free lot.
Note: Today my work sent me Erlanger Kentucky which has a Dixie Chili location. I included a few pics of my 20 conies, after the 90 minute car ride home. The cheese shrinks a bit from the melt, but they hold up fairly well.
Want to Experience this Adventure for Yourself?
Dixie Chili:
733 Monmouth St, Newport, KY 41071
